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Kepler launch timelineSPACEFLIGHT NOWPosted: February 25, 2009

T-00:00

Liftoff

The Delta 2 rocket's main engine and twin vernier steering thrusters are started moments before launch. The six ground-start strap-on solid rocket motors are ignited at T-0 to begin the mission.

T+01:03.1

Ground SRM Burnout

The six ground-start Alliant TechSystems-built solid rocket motors consume all their propellant and burn out.

T+01:05.5

Air-Lit SRM Ignition

The three remaining solid rocket motors strapped to the Delta 2 rocket's first stage are ignited.

T+01:06.0

Jettison Ground SRMs

The six spent ground-started solid rocket boosters are jettisoned in sets of three to fall into the Atlantic Ocean.

T+02:11.5

Jettison Air-Lit SRMs

Having burned out, the three spent air-started solid rocket boosters are jettisoned toward the Atlantic Ocean.

T+04:23.3

Main Engine Cutoff

After consuming its RP-1 fuel and liquid oxygen, the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-27A first stage main engine is shut down. The vernier engines cut off moments later.

T+04:31.3

Stage Separation

The Delta rocket's first stage is separated now, having completed its job. The spent stage will fall into the Atlantic Ocean.

T+04:36.8

Second Stage Ignition

With the stage jettisoned, the rocket's second stage takes over. The Aerojet AJ118-K liquid-fueled engine ignites for the first of two firings needed to place the upper stage and Kepler into the proper orbit.

T+04:41.0

Jettison Payload Fairing

The 10-foot diameter payload fairing that protected the Kepler satellite atop the Delta 2 during the atmospheric ascent is jettisoned is two halves.

T+09:56.0

Second Stage Cutoff 1

The second stage engine shuts down to complete its first firing of the launch. The rocket and attached Kepler spacecraft are now in a coast period before the second stage reignites. The circular orbit achieved should be 100 nautical miles high and inclined 28.5 degrees.

T+53:10.0

Second Stage Restart

Delta's second stage engine reignites for a minute-long firing that will raise the orbit's high point.

T+54:13.8

Second Stage Cutoff 2

The second stage shuts down. The orbit achieved should be 1,180 nautical miles at apogee, 94 miles at perigee and inclined 28.55 degrees. Over the next minute, tiny thrusters on the side of the rocket will be fired to spin up the vehicle in preparation for stage separation.

T+54:56.8

Stage Separation

The liquid-fueled second stage is jettisoned from the rest of the Delta 2 rocket.

T+55:33.8

Third Stage Ignition

The Star 48B solid-fueled third stage is ignited to propel the Kepler spacecraft out of Earth orbit.

T+57:00.1

Third Stage Burnout

Having used up all its solid-propellant, the third stage burns out to completed the powered phase of the launch sequence for Kepler.

T+61:48.8

Kepler Separation

NASA's Kepler space observatory is released from the Delta rocket into an Earth-trailing solar orbit, beginning its mission to find planets around other stars.

Data source: ULA

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